Countertops!

Installation Has Begun

High-Level Cabinet Decisions

After months of deliberation and many trips to the kitchen store, we ordered our cabinets and they're now sitting in our garage.

They could have been here months ago, but someone (not me, but I won't name names) decided he was having second thoughts about the white cabinets. He happened upon a sample in the kitchen store and felt it looked dirty. Now, mind you, the sample door he found looked nothing like what we were about to order at the exact moment the indecision arrived. Our kitchen guy very kindly agreed to order samples of what we actually planned to order to put our minds at ease. It took weeks for the samples to get to us, but they made someone feel better.

Here they are, just waiting to be installed!

Another Step Completed!

The hardwood floor is down in the addition!

Catching Up

For the last few months, I haven't been able to post any photos. I don't know why; they just wouldn't upload. Here are several to catch you up on what we've done. The trim and walls have been painted, and now the floor is going down.

A Scene from a Movie

At first glance, you see a sweet picture of two kitties sitting nicely in the window together. Take a closer look, to the right of the cats, and you'll see that something is not quite as it should be.

Yesterday, Mike was using this saw to cut a long piece of wood when half of it shot off the table and flew through the window. All he could say was, "It was like a scene from a movie."

The piece of wood landed in the backyard, where it is still sticking out of the ground.

Smoothing Things Over

Now that the drywall is up, it's patching time. What a messy job! Steve and Mike have spent a tremendous amount of time carefully smoothing joint compound over every nail hole. As always, Ashby is sitting by, ready to help his best pal Steve.

In between mudding sessions, Mike has been trimming the windows. 

Pretty soon we'll be priming and painting!

A Dry & Boring Project

Our insulation inspection was a success, and now the drywall is going up!

The first video shows the room insulated before any drywall goes in. The others are pretty self-explanatory.

For those who can't view the videos, here are some photos:

Who would have thought my mother would climb so high on that ladder? Anything to use a cordless screwdriver!

We Passed Rough Inspection!!!!

About a week ago, we passed rough inspection, which means that we can proceed with the next phase of our renovations.

Mike, with a lot of help from our friend Steve, is currently insulating the addition, and what a difference it makes! No more drafts, no more shivering while cooking.

Once the insulation is done, the inspector will come back to check it out. If all goes well, soon we should be putting up drywall and unpacking all those boxes full of hardwood flooring!

Skeletons in My Closet

Okay, so not really, but it had gotten to the point where my hall closet was so disorganized that if there had been a skeleton in there, I never would have known.

As a side project while Mike was getting ready for our rough building inspection, I decided to give my closet a makeover. So I wouldn't distract Mike from his task, I took a trip to The Container Store in Columbus where one of their experts took my poorly drawn sketches of the closet I wanted and translated them into a computer-generated mock up. I was amazed; there on the screen before me was exactly what I needed. I chose the shelving, and the staff there cut all of the pieces to size. An hour after making my selection, they loaded everything into my car, and I was on my way home.

After removing the useless single bar and shelf (the dust on that shelf was really nasty), I began the process of priming, plastering, and painting the space. I even put in a new floor - linoleum squares that look like ceramic tile. The next step was to install the new shelving units, and voila, I now have a beautiful, functional closet. 

We're Still Working on the Inside

You'll notice that I last posted in December, when I said it was time to turn our attention to the inside of the addition. I haven't added any details since then because we really haven't accomplished much that is visible to our readers. Mike was sidelined for several weeks in the spring due to breaking his leg during a hockey game. He did manage to climb up the ladder a few times in his aircast while I nervously stood below, ready to catch him.

We're finally back on track and hoping to finish the room by the end of some year. (You'll notice I don't indicate which one.)

As I am writing this post, Mike and Steve are wiring. Our next inspection will focus on the electrical work in the addition (we recently passed the plumbing inspection.)

After months of indecision and testing out a cardboard mock up, we purchased a hood for above the stove. It's quite sleek, I must say, although not nearly as attractive as its cardboard predecessor. The top portion will eventually be encased in stainless steel.

A couple of weeks ago, Mike and Steve finished tearing out the last of the old ceiling.

And that's where we are. Please keep your fingers crossed for us as we prep for the next inspection!



Time to Finish the Inside

Now that the outside of the house is done, we can really focus on the inside. And with winter here, the timing is perfect since we'll need something to fill those long, boring, cold days.

A couple of weeks ago, we took out the remaining kitchen walls and removed the last of the powder blue tile and the yellow linoleum beneath it. Then we put plywood down throughout.